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IN MEMORY 


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GEORGE YARDLEY TAYLOR, M. D. 


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_| The McCook Collection 
RE of Books, Pamphlets, Portraits, . 
Prints, Seals, etc., Illustrating 


PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED 
CHURCH HISTORY 

















AN ADDRESS 


IN MEMORY OF 


GEORGE YARDLEY TAYLOR, M. D. 


BY 


EDWARD B. HODGE, D. D. 


READ AT THE 
MEMORIAL SERVICE 
COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PAOTINGFU MARTYRS 
IN THE 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BURLINGTON, N. J. 
NOVEMBER 26, 1goo 


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GHORGH YARDLEY “BAYLOR, AB, M: D: 





IN MEMORIAM. 


“ It is a beautiful instinct,” said the preacher when he be- 
gan his sermon on the occasion of the death of Elisha Kent 
Kane, “It is a beautiful instinct which prompts us to lay a 
flower upon the grave of a friend.” It is with the wish to en- 
joy a privilege of this kind that | am preparing these lines in 
memory of my dear friend, George Yardley Taylor, of Bur- 
lington, New Jersey. 

His widowed mother came into the communion of the Pres- 
byterian Church of Burlington from the Society of Friends, 
and I had the privilege of baptizing young George at the same 
time with his mother and the infant brother. He had already. 
in childhood formed the distinct purpose to become a phy- 
sician, and came to the Van Rensselaer Seminary, a school 
under the care of the Burlington Church, with this purpose in 
mind. His studies at Princeton University were pursued with 
the same end in view. He was one of the most exemplary young 
men I ever knew; and yet it was not until atter his gradua- 
tion at Princeton that he was prepared to make a public con- 
fession of Christ. He did not make the mistake of waiting 
until he was good enough in his own esteem; but he had such 
a sense of the grave importance of the step, and was so dis- 
satisfied with the evidences of having passed from death to 
life, that he felt sure he really was not a Christian, when prob- 
-ably everybody else felt sure that he was. I never knew any 
one come before the session with a request to be admitted to 
the Lord’s Table with more unfeigned modesty and humility 
than he displayed when at last he ventured to make his ap- 
plication. Subsequent events showed that he meant all that 
he said when, before witnessing men and angels he called 


2 


Jesus “Lord,” and took his vow to be Christ’s faithful servant 
and soldier to his life’s end, whatever trials and difficulties 
might arise on that account. He came promptly to Philadel- 
phia at the completion of his course in Princeton in order to 
enter upon medical studies at the Universtiy of Pennsylvania. 

Although overworked in studying his profession, and teach- 
ing in order to earn the money necessary for his education, he 
entered zealously upon the various activities of the Tabernacle 
Church, of which the Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., is pastor, 
making himself useful according to his talents. He was a good 
musician and was glad to be helpful by playing the organ also 
when attending the meetings for social worship. 

When he had obtained his diploma he secured an appoint- 
ment as resident physician at the Presbyterian Hospital in 
Philadelphia, where his duties were discharged with that 
scrupulous fidelity which was characteristic of the man, and 
where he acquired that experience which was to be of so much 
advantage to him in his work in China. Many accident cases 
were brought to the hospital, a good proportion of which 
were sent by the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. The introduction of 
railroads into China brought a new class of accidents to mis- 
sion hospitals, and Dr. Taylor found his Philadelphia hospital 
experience standing him in good stead when injured men were 
brought to him for treatment in that land. 

A great crisis came in Dr. Taylor’s life when he had com- 
pleted his course at the hospital. Many attractive propositions 
were made to him; some of them very earnestly to settle in this 
country for the practice of his noble profession. It may in- 
terest you to learn iow he came to choose the ‘life of a mis- 
sionary physician. 1! regard the decision which he reached as 
a direct answer to prayer. The Burlington Church was found- 
ed by Dr. Cortiandt Van Ransselaer who devoted the greater 
part of his ministry to the cause of Ministerial Education, and 
I often wondered that from the little church which he estab- 
lished candidates for the holy ministry did not seem to be 
forthcoming. It is true that he had the privilege of inscrib- 
ing with his own hand in the church record the name of LEVI 
JANVIER, who went out to India as a missionary, and there 
died a violent death for the cause he loved. But his name stood 


Assy 
_~ 


almost alone. It was my privilege to serve the Burlington 
Church for thirty years. I took pains to teach the people con- 
stantly to love the work of the ministry and to pray for its in- 
crease. The burden of prayer for many years was to this 
effect: ‘Lord, be pleased to take the choicest and the best of 
our sons and daughters and consecrate them to thy. special 
service.’ God evidenily hearkened to that oft-repeated prayer. 
He looked down upon us as we appeared before him from 
Sabbath to Sabbath in his house, and he made his selection 
according to the terms of our request. He laid his hand upon 
the head of George Taylor, and we seemed to hear him say, 
“This. man will I choose; for have you any better than he?” 
sut God uses means. Dr. Taylor was constantly under the in- 
fluence of a missionary spirit in the church, and under mis- 
sionary instruction. He was also permitted to meet and to 
hear not a few of the missionaries who were from time to time 
in this country on furlough. Such men as the veteran Hunter 
Corbett, of Chifu, China, Nassau, of Africa, with Wynkoop, 
Kellogg, Heyl, Brodhead and Tracy, of India, doubtless made 
deep impressions on the mind and heart of this young man. 
I remember once also putting into his hands, as a book which 
might interest a medical student, Dr. B. C. Henry’s work on 
China. I thought that the account of hospital work at Canton 
would attract his notice. The book was read and returned to 
me without comment. It was one night some years after- 
ward that we sat by the open fire at the Burlington Manse 
discussing plans proposed for his future. About midnight he 
startled me by suddenly addressing me on this wise: “Mr. 
Hodge, had you not some other plan in mind for me?” Before 
I could well recover from my astonishment, he added, “Did 
you. not intend that I should become a foreign missionary ?” 
Correspondence with the Board of Foreign Missions ensued, 
‘the result of which was his appointment to be the associate 
of Dr. Boudinot C. Atterbury at the An Ting Hospital in the 
City of Peking. This association was a most happy one, and the 
two young surgeons jabored together most harmoniously and 
successfully. Dr. Taylor made such rapid progress in the 
language of the country that he was soon able to dispense 
with an interpreter) in the discharge of his duties, and his 


+ 


skill as a surgeon won for him the highest praise from Dr. 
Atterbury, who had the best opportunity for judging. He had 
opened also a dispensary at a place called the “Hills,” about 
fifteen miles from Peking, and his journeys to and from this 
post in all sorts of weather exposed his health to no little 
danger. Indeed his triends in China, alarmed in his behalf, 
were secretly planning to have him sent home to recruit; but 
he immediately forbade further proceedings when he dis- 
covered what he regarded as their mistaken kindness. He was 
greatly interested while at Peking in the effort to train native 
physicians, and one of the treasured pictures we have is that 
which represents the two American doctors with their class 
of native students about them. 

The time came when a forward movement seemed possible, 
and through the personal exertions of Dr. Taylor money was 
secured for the erection of hospital, dispensary and chapel 
buildings at Paotingfu, a large walled city, the capital of the 
province of Chili, about ninety miles southwest from Peking. 
A railroad between the two cities was built and opened for 
travel in the spring of 1899. His associates in the mission 
at Paotingfu wete his friends, Dr. Atterbury and family, Mrs. 
Lowrie, widow of the Rev. Reuben Lowrie. of Shanghai; the 
Rev. Walter Lowrie, her son; Rev. F. E. Simcox and family; 
the Rev. J. A. Miller and family. The Atterbury house was 
left vacant after a time by the return of Dr. Atterbury to Amer- 
ica. The state of his health was such that he was forbidden 
by his physician to return to China. When my son, Cortlandt 
Van Rensselaer and his wife, dedicated themselves to the work 
of foreign missions | was extremely anxious that the novitiate 
should be passed with Dr. Taylor, whom | knew so well and 
trusted so completely. The providential vacancy at Paotingfu 
seemed to favor such an arrangement; all difficulties were one 
after another taken out of the way; it seemed clearly the 
will of God; and I felt extremely pleased when I saw my 
wishes carried so happily into effect. I little knew what a 
post of danger was thus selected at the very front of the bat- 
tle. Dr. Taylor, from the moment he learned that this plan. 
could be carried out, seemed to devote himself to the task of 
providing in every possible way for the comfort and happiness 


\ 


1 


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of the new-comers. I can never be grateful enough for all 
his kindness. On his part a new joy plainly came into his 
life when they appeared and entered upon the duties of the 
mission. How happy they were in each other’s company! 
What large prospects of usefulness opened before the imagina- 
tions of the young physicians who were bravely uniting their 
efforts for the healing of China’s suffering millions! Hopeful 
letters and reports to the Board told of increasing attendance 
at the dispensary at the compound, and at the dispensary with- 
in the city walls. A tour into the interior to the south had been 
made in November, 1899, by Mr. Walter Lowrie, Dr. Hodge, 
and Mr. Killie of Peking, and a site selected for a new station 
soon to be opened and occupied. 

And then came the change. 
operating in the province of Shantung, appeared in force in 
Chili, and kept an encampment for months only a few miles 
south of Paotingfu. The letters which came home, however, 
showed no signs of alarm. 

And yet there were things which seemed like a presentiment. 
Expressions appeared occasionally in Dr. Taylor’s letters 


The “Boxers,” who had heen 


which seemed strange from his pen. There were days when he 
had had more than the usual burden of labor and care, and 
which saw him at the close in a frame of mind, produced by 
weariness, which craved a longer rest than a night’s repose. 
There were evening hours, too, when the missionaries were to- 
gether and Dr. Tavlor’s fingers were on the key-board of the 
organ. He was very fond of the new Hymnal of the Pres- 
byterian Church The hymns were sung through from cover 
to cover; but there was one hymn which became particularly 
associated with our friend, and it was this: 


“Sunset and evening star, 
And one clear call for me! 

And may there be no moaning of the bar 
When I put out to sea. 

Twilight and evening bell, 
And after that the dark! 

And may there be no sadness of farewell 
When I embark. 


6 


For, though from out our bourne of time and place 
The flood may bear me far, 

I hope to see my Pilot face to face 
When I have crossed the bar.” 


On the 27th of May the situation suddenly became alarming. 
The Boxers, who had been persecuting the Roman Catholic 
Christians south of Paotingfu, marched northward and_ de- 
stroyed bridges, stations, and portions of the railroad track on 
the road to Peking, and the little company found themselves 
cut off from communication with the rest of the world. A 
letter sent by special messenger from the A. B. C. F. M. mission 
station about the third of June to the treasurer of the mission 
at Peking tells pathetically of the situation: “Talk is now de- 
finite that Nan Chuang is to be sacked to-morrow or the next 
day, then the Roman Catholic Church here, and then our 
place. * * * We cant so out to fcht. Wermusmesit ctl 
do our work—and, if God calls, go to Him. * * * A guard 
from Peking ought to meet us in two anda half days. North 
of us are raiders; east, on the river, are the French murderers : 
south, plunderers; southwest, railway destroyers. Boxers 
are plenty here. One spark from north, south, east or west and 
we are gone. * * *. Pray for us. In His waiting i 

Alas, there was no help in Peking. There was no help in 
Tiensin, where Mr. Walter Lowrie was pleading with the con- 
suls for fifty marines that he might cut his way through for the 
rescue for his associates. But they knew the madness of such 





an attempt, and there was not a man to spare. And so it came 
to pass that the two devoted little bands in calmness and forti- 
tude of spirit awaited the end. 

On Sunday, the 24th of June, the condition of things was 
ominous. Yet Mr. Simcox preached as usual, taking for his 
text the passage which speaks of our being strangers and _pil- 
grims on the earth. 

The 28th of June was the regular day for the dispensary in 
the city, and Dr. Taylor, “regular as the sun,” was present for 
his clinic. Only two days later, writes Mr. Lowrie, on the re- 
port of a native Christian, the rioters surrounded the mission 
premises and burned them, and all the foreign inmates, eight 
in number, passed up into the martyr’s home together. 


7 


Such was the end of one who was the very soul of sincerity 
and truth; a man of unaffected humility and modesty ; a man 
of most tender affections, at the furthest remove from affecta- 
tion, loving far more intensely than he was himself aware of; 
a man of religious devotion and fidelity, rather than of emo- 
tional enthusiasm; a man to be trusted to the utmost tunder all 
circumstances ; a man ready to lay down his life for his friends ; 
a man who did lay down that life for the Master whom he 
served. 

The call now 1s for volunteers to take the places of those who 
have fallen at the front of the battle. I mistake much the char- 
acter of the young men of our Christian colleges if that call 
shall be made in vain. “Whom shall I send, and who will go 
foneise  —  tieream Li Send> met” 








